Doncaster hosted an eight race card on ground described as Soft (Good To Soft in places on the Straight Course) with the Round Course (6.4) and the Straight Course (6.6) on the Going Stick. Winning times were just 5 lengths per mile slower than standard on the Straight Course, with conditions a bit more difficult to pin down on the Round Course. The fastest run race on the latter was the Class 2 Handicap for 3 year old and over Fillies and Mares won by the Ralph Beckett trained Mistressofillusion (106) which had a Race Finish of just (107.18%) when taking the rail movement into account. This particular race was run 22 lengths per mile slower than standard, giving hope for Soft ground backers, that there may be enough juice in the ground for tomorrow’s big race.
The feature race of the day was the Group 2 Betfred Doncaster Cup over 17 furlongs 197 yards, and it was the return of the Alan King trained Trueshan (who hadn’t been seen on the racetrack in 135 days) that everyone was eager to see. The likeable 7yo gelding had underwent a wind operation in May following his below par effort when unplaced in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at Ascot. A missed engagement in the Gold Cup due to unsuitable ground conditions had added to the absence. The fact that the son of Planteur went off only third in the betting at 10/3 indicated the wariness punters had regarding his wellbeing. The race itself was a slowly run affair with Broome setting steady fractions, and Hollie Doyle on Trueshan racing keenly about five lengths in rear. Around five furlongs from home Hollie decided to make a sweeping move on the outside, and take up the lead, which ended up being the decisive race winning move. The partnership raced alone down the centre of the track, and maintained their lead all the way to the line, eventually coming home 1 1/4 lengths ahead of the John & Thady Gosden trained Sweet William. The runner-up looked dangerous entering the final furlong, before edging left into the rail and wilting under pressure near the finish. Coltrane, the 5/4 favourite, finished last beaten 6 1/2 lengths, and appeared not to run his race. The steady nature of the race, as a lot of these long distance races can be, reulted in a lowly (106) speed rating for the winner. With this in mind, and the performance of the favourite, we will need to see more from Trueshan going forward. It was still pleasing to see him back in winning form.
Big Evs (107) came back to something resembling his career best (111) from Royal Ascot, when making all in the 5f Group 2 Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes for two year olds earlier on the card. Following a tough win on a Heavy surface in the Molecomb, and an unplaced effort against his elders in the Nunthorpe, the son of Blue Point had 2 3/4 lengths to spare over the Andrew Balding trained Flora Of Bermuda. Connections see the Breeders Cup Juvenile Sprint at Santa Anita as his next target.
The Roger Teal trained Dancing Gemini (109) recorded the joint highest speed rating on the card when coming home 4 1/4 lengths clear of Gushing Gold in the 7f 6y Listed Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes, also for two year olds. This was a step forward from his (105) maiden win at Newbury, and connections have him entered in next month’s Group 1 Futurity Stakes back here over the mile. Roger had previously won this race with Tip Two Win in 2017, who eventually went on to finish runner-up to the Aidan O’Brien trained Saxon Warrior at 50/1 in the 2000 Guineas in 2018. A similar path could be taken with this son of Camelot.
Baradar (109) recorded his second win in a row with the combination of tongue tie and cheekpieces, and found the drop back to 6 furlongs 111 yards no problem, for trainer George Boughey and Amo Racing, finishing 1 1/2 lengths clear of Lethal Nymph.
Other winners on the card included Circe (93), Legendary Day (96), and Red Zone Hero (102).
Back Tomorrow for the St Leger,
Graham